Slender Man stabbing: Morgan Geyser release faces opposition
Morgan Geyser release faces opposition
A Waukesha County judge on Friday agreed to hear the state's petition to stop the conditional release of Morgan Geyser, one of two people convicted in the Slender Man stabbing, which the court granted in January.
WAUKESHA, Wis. - A Waukesha County judge on Friday agreed to hear the state's petition to stop the conditional release of Morgan Geyser, one of two people convicted in the Slender Man stabbing that took place more than a decade ago, which the court granted in January.
Geyser seeks release
The backstory:
In a decision in January, Judge Michael Bohren granted Geyser conditional release – saying it would not pose a significant risk to the public or Geyser, who now identifies as a transgender man.
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The latest petition marked the fourth time in the past two years Geyser asked to be let out of the facility. Geyser withdrew their first two petitions. Bohren denied the third request, saying Geyser remained a risk to the public at that time.
The same three doctors who evaluated Geyser last year returned to the Waukesha County Courthouse with a different outcome in January. In 2024, two of them testified Geyser was not ready to move into a group home. But in January, they called Geyser a "bright young woman" who is no longer a danger. Doctors said Geyser no longer hears voices and has been off anti-psychotic medications for years.
Slender Man stabbing: Morgan Geyser release conditions to come
A judge ruled Morgan Geyser, convicted in the "Slender Man" stabbing case, can leave a state psychiatric hospital. FOX6 spoke to a defense attorney.
Last May, a doctor diagnosed Geyser with autism spectrum disorder. Geyser was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia. Doctors said neither of those things impacted Geyser's mental health recovery.
What's next:
The plan for Geyser's conditional release had him headed to a group home, where he would be monitored and treated.
The petition filed to stop the conditional release was over concerns about books Geyser was reading and a person who the state said Geyser was in communication with. The state argued the book included graphic content.
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"I think it's unfair for somebody, who was already ordered to be released, now has their plan interrupted because she chose to disclose intreatment things that she is reading and talk honestly and openly about the questions that are asked of her," said Anthony Cotton, Geyser's defense attorney.
Another hearing is scheduled for Thursday, March 6. Three doctors who prepared reports for the previous hearing will appear.
Slender Man case
The backstory:
In 2014, Geyser and Anissa Weier were both 12 years old when they lured Payton Leutner to a Waukesha park after a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier egged him on. Leutner barely survived.
Slender Man
Geyser and Weier later told investigators they wanted to earn the right to be servants of the fictional Slender Man and that they feared he would harm their families if they didn’t carry out the attack.
Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and was also sent to the psychiatric center. She was granted a release in 2021 to live with her father and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor.
Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide and was sent to the psychiatric institute because of mental illness.
The Source: Information in this report is from the Wisconsin Circuit Court and previous FOX6 News coverage.